Browns at Packers; Bengals at Lions Highlight This Week’s NFC North Action
The Cleveland Browns are at the Green Bay Packers this week in a match-up of 3-win teams that really cannot afford too many more losses.
The Browns were looking good a week ago against another NFC North team, the Detroit Lions in the first half. But then Reggie Bush and Matthew Stafford got going in the second half and the Lions stormed back to take a 31-17 win at Cleveland.
The Packers got a big win last week when they moved over .500 for the first time this year at 3-2. Green Bay got a tough win at the Baltimore Ravens 19-17, which moved them into a half game behind the Chicago Bears and the Lions who are both 4-2. The win was costly for the Pack however as they lost Randall Cobb who suffered a knee injury on a hit from rookie Matt Elam. Many of the Packers felt the hit was a dirty play and that seemed to fuel them on a little more, which may have helped them win the game.
These NFC North-AFC North games have been rock-em sock-em affairs so far. These two divisions have beat each other up which explains why both races are so tight. The AFC North has three teams within a game of the lead while the NFC North has three within a half game of first.
The Cleveland-Green Bay game should be another tight one as the Browns try to win their fourth game in their last five and the Pack goes for three straight.
In other NFC-AFC North action, the Cincinnati Bengals at 4-2 take on the 4-2 Lions in a battle of the two division leaders. Detroit snapped a two-game skid at Cleveland last week while the Bengals won in overtime over the Buffalo Bills 27-24. The Bengals are 1-1 against the NFC North with a win over Green Bay and a loss to the Bears. Detroit is 1-0 in the AFC North.
The Bears will visit the Washington Redskins this week. Washington has had a tough season so far at 1-4. They are coming off a 31-16 loss at the Dallas Cowboys last week. Chicago is tied for the lead at 4-2 and will be well rested after beating the hapless New York Giants 27-21 on Thursday last week.
The Minnesota Vikings misery continued with a 35-10 loss at home to the Carolina Panthers last week. This week they take on the equally terrible Giants on Monday Night Football. Ratings should be awful for ESPN that night.
Betonline has odds on these games:
Cleveland at Green Bay– Browns are +10-110 and Packers are -10 -110 ATS. Moneyline is Cleveland +390 and Green Bay -475. Over/Under is 46 with both -110. We like the Browns +10 and the over -110.
Cincinnati at Detroit– The Bengals are +1 +115 and the Lions are -1 -135 ATS. Moneyline is +120 and Detroit -140. O/U is 47 with both -110.We like the Bengals +120 and the over -110.
Chicago at Washington– This game is a Pick’em with each team -110. Over/Under is 50 with both -110. How can this game be a pick’em? Take the Bears -110 and the under- 110.
Minnesota at New York Giants- Vikings are +3+105 and Giants are -3 -125. Moneyline is Minnesota +160 and New York -180. O/U is 46.5Â with both -110. Another puzzling spread. How bad do the Giants have to be? We’ll take the Vikings +3 +105 and the under -110.
